Skip to main content

Put your mechanical bull on Craigslist and get this VR motion simulator

Virtual reality startup Futuretown announced the upcoming launch of Totalmotion, a body-controlled platform interface that can be adapted to suit a variety of VR experiences and simulations in conjunction with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets.

Futuretown demonstrates several of the device’s potential applications in the trailer above, giving an early glimpse at VR motocross, snowboarding, and horseback riding scenarios that employ Totalmotion technology.

Recommended Videos

Designed for amusement parks and stand-alone VR attractions, the Totalmotion is a modular platform that players either straddle or stand upon, depending on the simulated experience. The base of the platform moves and rotates with player input, resulting in fluid controls and movement within a VR space.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

To further enhance player immersion, the Totalmotion can be upgraded with a number of bolt-on accessories, including handlebars and customized seating. Futuretown demonstrated several in-development applications during its showcase event at Tokyo Game Show this week, including the games Whiteout: Ski VR, Infinity Rider: Motorcycle VR, Wave Breaker: Surf VR, and Stallion Adventures: Horse Riding VR.

“Our vision is that virtual reality technology will transform people’s lives and change the way they perceive and interact with the world,” Futuretown Honorary Chairman Peter Chou told VR Focus. “Futuretown has been an early pioneer of virtual reality and an innovator with cross-platform and digital content creation. We are excited to deliver the world’s most advanced and immersive virtual reality experience for everyone to enjoy and make our vision a reality.”

Futuretown previously produced the popular HTC Vive application Cloudlands: VR Minigolf, along with the virtual reality shooters Jeeboman and A-10 VR.

“The Totalmotion platform opens up new opportunities for developers to create virtual reality experiences that were not possible before,” Futuretown CEO Johan Yang said. “With the modular design of the Totalmotion platform, we can more easily expand and build new virtual reality experiences suitable for all ages.”

A launch date for the Totalmotion platform has not been announced.

Danny Cowan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…
Two new ‘game-changing’ VR headsets could arrive at HTC’s ViveCon next week
HTC Vive Pro Eye virtual reality headset

HTC has been teasing that a new virtual reality headset could launch at its Vivecon conference next week, but the company may have more up its sleeve. We are hearing reports that HTC has several VR headsets in the works. The company is expected to launch at least two new headsets at ViveCon on May 11, and it will likely use the venue to talk about the recently leaked Vive Air.

The two headsets rumored to be launching at ViveCon are the HTC Vive Pro 2 and the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition. HTC's sports-focused Vive Air was leaked late last month, but the company quickly debunked speculation that this particular model will be launching any time soon. Instead, HTC said that the Vive Air is just a concept.

Read more
Apple VR headset in the works, AR glasses coming later
oculus quest review lifestyle 5

Apple is working on a premium virtual reality (VR) headset of a similar size to the Oculus Quest, according to a report from Bloomberg citing “people with knowledge of the matter.” The device could launch as soon as 2022 with an expensive price tag.

Apple has long been rumored to be working on an augmented reality (AR) headset, and CEO Tim Cook has previously explained that his preference lay with augmented rather than virtual reality, as it “gives the capability for both of us to sit and be very present.” VR, on the other hand, can shut people off from each other.

Read more
How to build a cheap VR-ready PC

It's been a couple years since the VR renaissance kicked off in earnest, and things are looking up for VR. The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift have now upgraded to the Cosmos and the Rift S, respectively, while Sony's PlayStation VR offers an excellent entry point for console gamers, and there are hundreds of VR titles on the Steam store alone. VR is growing, but some steep barriers to entry are keeping interested enthusiasts from taking the plunge.

The biggest barrier is a simple one: Price. PC gaming is an expensive hobby, and tacking on VR is another $300 to $700, depending on what you buy. But there are some simple ways to save: The secret is building the right PC for your VR system on the cheap, and we know how to do it.

Read more